44 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



bracken. Those, however, that are fortunate enough to 

 attain any size, seldom succumb afterwards, unless the 

 season should be a particularly wet one, for they grow at an 

 astonishing rate, gaining strength rapidly. 



On disturbing a hen with young, she rises with a great 

 fluster, and flaps off, endeavouring to attract attention 

 by the usual broken-legged feints whilst her brood are 

 making themselves scarce. If she does not succeed she 

 will sometimes come right up to within a few feet, utter- 

 ing her stereotyped "coq coq," accompanied by little 

 rushes to the right and left ; and if the intruder should 

 still remain, she resorts to other stratagems, by flying 

 away with apparent unconcern, and then suddenly re- 

 appearing from another direction w^ith her silent ghost-like 

 flight. 



Whilst the young are still in a half-fledged condition, 

 the mother keejDS her brood amongst the deep heather 

 and bracken, where they can generally find a good supply 

 of small insects, ants' eggs, worms, etc., which she scrapes 

 up for them. This diet is not changed much till the 

 middle of August, when the wild-fruit season commences. 

 Then, during the evenings, they are to be found in the 

 raspberry and blaeberry beds, taking but little notice of 

 any one who may perchance disturb them at their meal, 

 beyond lifting their long necks and marching gravely 

 out of the path. In Septemljer the cornfields off'er 

 their attractions, and every evening the family party 

 adjourn thither, showing their true Highland spirit by 

 displaying a marked predilection for oats above all other 

 kinds of grain ! It is generally at this season that your 

 friend has his holiday and is eager to shoot a Caper 



